Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Mine is on the same team as yours. We are deeply unhappy. Did you see the tournament list? No showcases until Dec when it will be too late for most seniors.

I do not understand why the tournaments are not front loaded more in the fall for this age team! And the fall tournaments we are doing are jokes. Capital Fall Classic is not a showcase tournament, I'm baffled by playing ViVa instead of at least doing the Rev Cup, and this team always plays VDA Showcase, not on the schedule this year.

Isnt part of the issue that Herndon branched off of VDA, so they are now fending for themselves a bit more, which is exposing the dysfunction that much more.

Not at all, because they really had nothing to do with VDA and VDA had nothing to do with Herndon. It was just a marketing platform to advertise a 'pathway' to ECNL and now they have the same exact thing with FFX Union. Really very few Herndon kids went to VDA b/c who wants to go all the way to Woodbridge from Herndon for practice?

This isn't true at all. Herndon joined forces with VDA and their TD became one of their coaches and took his entire 2006 Black team from Herndon over to VDA so that THOSE specific kids could have a pathway. Now that those kids graduated last year and he's not coaching there any more that's that.

That's just one specific situation that doesn't really apply to any other Herndon kids or teams. I don't see how chaos and poor administration would be related to losing the relationship with VDA. VDA didn't do anything administrative for Herndon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I'm sad for you all but it is really helpful for people's research for tryouts next year when families spill the tea like this.

+1. I would not try out for a club that only assigns 25% of a field to their top HS boys teams and then let the hoi polloi frolick all through their practice sessions.

\

agree

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Mine is on the same team as yours. We are deeply unhappy. Did you see the tournament list? No showcases until Dec when it will be too late for most seniors.

I do not understand why the tournaments are not front loaded more in the fall for this age team! And the fall tournaments we are doing are jokes. Capital Fall Classic is not a showcase tournament, I'm baffled by playing ViVa instead of at least doing the Rev Cup, and this team always plays VDA Showcase, not on the schedule this year.

Isnt part of the issue that Herndon branched off of VDA, so they are now fending for themselves a bit more, which is exposing the dysfunction that much more.

Not at all, because they really had nothing to do with VDA and VDA had nothing to do with Herndon. It was just a marketing platform to advertise a 'pathway' to ECNL and now they have the same exact thing with FFX Union. Really very few Herndon kids went to VDA b/c who wants to go all the way to Woodbridge from Herndon for practice?

This isn't true at all. Herndon joined forces with VDA and their TD became one of their coaches and took his entire 2006 Black team from Herndon over to VDA so that THOSE specific kids could have a pathway. Now that those kids graduated last year and he's not coaching there any more that's that.

Anonymous wrote:^^Especially seniors. WHy are they getting the worst practice times and night?

How many teams does your coach lead? Three!!!

Here's the setting for that.

There's one park with one turf field, surrounded by tons of townhouses and apartments.

Next to the turf field is a smaller turf area (designed for warmups before games). Next to that is a basketball court. There's also a playground and tennis courts.

Imagine about 30+ teen boys and men on the basketball court, another 50 or so playing pickup in the warmup area (no goals, so the ball goes everywhere). Random people are jogging in circles on the edge of the turf field. Random people are walking their dogs. Kids on bikes, kids on scooters, kids on roller skates. Kids kicking soccer balls on the edges of the field. Grown adults who know better encroaching on to the edges and sides of the field with volleyballs, footballs, tennis rackets, etc. Grown adults moving on to the field to play by the goals as soon as one of the practicing teams takes a water break or the coach starts explaining the next drill. Theres also a pavilion area right next to the field that is some kind of local teen hangout spot, so usually at least 20+ teen boys and girls "hanging out".

Literally, there could be 80 kids and coaches who are supposed to be on the field practicing and 100+ neighborhood people lurking around the field trying to use it.

I can't get over how someone is even teaching their kid to ride a bike in the middle of 4 teenage soccer practices. How does that even happen.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I'm sad for you all but it is really helpful for people's research for tryouts next year when families spill the tea like this.

+1. I would not try out for a club that only assigns 25% of a field to their top HS boys teams and then let the hoi polloi frolick all through their practice sessions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Mine is on the same team as yours. We are deeply unhappy. Did you see the tournament list? No showcases until Dec when it will be too late for most seniors.

I do not understand why the tournaments are not front loaded more in the fall for this age team! And the fall tournaments we are doing are jokes. Capital Fall Classic is not a showcase tournament, I'm baffled by playing ViVa instead of at least doing the Rev Cup, and this team always plays VDA Showcase, not on the schedule this year.

Isnt part of the issue that Herndon branched off of VDA, so they are now fending for themselves a bit more, which is exposing the dysfunction that much more.

Not at all, because they really had nothing to do with VDA and VDA had nothing to do with Herndon. It was just a marketing platform to advertise a 'pathway' to ECNL and now they have the same exact thing with FFX Union. Really very few Herndon kids went to VDA b/c who wants to go all the way to Woodbridge from Herndon for practice?

Honestly, I'm sad for you all but it is really helpful for people's research for tryouts next year when families spill the tea like this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Mine is on the same team as yours. We are deeply unhappy. Did you see the tournament list? No showcases until Dec when it will be too late for most seniors.

I do not understand why the tournaments are not front loaded more in the fall for this age team! And the fall tournaments we are doing are jokes. Capital Fall Classic is not a showcase tournament, I'm baffled by playing ViVa instead of at least doing the Rev Cup, and this team always plays VDA Showcase, not on the schedule this year.

Isnt part of the issue that Herndon branched off of VDA, so they are now fending for themselves a bit more, which is exposing the dysfunction that much more.

^^Especially seniors. WHy are they getting the worst practice times and night?

Anonymous wrote:A friday night practice for teen boys when they want to go to football games with their friends seems really lame.

Right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Mine is on the same team as yours. We are deeply unhappy. Did you see the tournament list? No showcases until Dec when it will be too late for most seniors.

I do not understand why the tournaments are not front loaded more in the fall for this age team! And the fall tournaments we are doing are jokes. Capital Fall Classic is not a showcase tournament, I'm baffled by playing ViVa instead of at least doing the Rev Cup, and this team always plays VDA Showcase, not on the schedule this year.

Wasted too many years at Herndon dealing with all of these issues. They will never get better as long as those in charge remain there. One of the most poorly run clubs in the area. Those talking about TD and Club admins promising everything under the sun and then not delivering are 100% correct - it happens every year.

We've played for 2 other clubs since and both have been light years better.

A friday night practice for teen boys when they want to go to football games with their friends seems really lame.